The spokesperson of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Enemi George, has explained why state lawmakers rejected the Christmas gift sent by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
George disclosed this during an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television on Thursday.
Lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier returned a sum of 100,000 naira paid into their individual accounts, describing the funds as unapproved and unsolicited.
Explaining the decision, the Assembly spokesperson said the rejection was based on principles and a desire to avoid legal consequences.
“We rejected that money for principles.
“There’s no constitutional provision for that. How do you defend it? In the budget that the National Assembly passed, there’s nowhere they said that there’s a Christmas gift.
“We didn’t reject it because the money is too small, but we rejected it because I don’t want to go to prison. No constitutional provision for such money. Which constitution backs it?
“Look, we are dealing with public funds which do not belong to my father, mother or sister. It rather belongs to the Rivers people.”
George stressed that public funds must be handled strictly within the confines of the law, adding that lawmakers have a responsibility to protect the interests of the people they represent.
